RealTemp vs. CoreTemp: Which Is More Trustworthy for PC?

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Asen Stoyanchev

Owner | Content Writer at Maximum Tech

Asen is a Microsoft Certified Professional turned blogger with 10+ experience working in the IT industry as a hardware and software support engineer.

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Always check the temperature of your CPU whether your PC is custom-designed or purchased prebuilt.

45nm Quad and Core 2 Dual processor sensors become saturated or stuck at high temperatures and continue reporting the same temperature – even after the CPU has cooled down.

This is why you need a tool that measures and monitors the CPU temperature accurately. This is where RealTemp and CoreTemp come in – the two most popular temperature monitoring programs.

Here is a detailed guide on CoreTemp vs RealTemp to help you decide which is better for you!

RealTemp vs CoreTemp: The Basics

1. What is RealTemp?

RealTemp is a temperature monitoring application. It is a CoreTemp alternative. It will work with most versions of Windows, including 32- and 64-bit versions.

Intel has its own temperature sensors to control and prevent thermal throttling and thermal deactivation. But they do not report the precise temperature cores. 

RealTemp reads TJMax (Junction Temperature Max) directly from the CPU, so this reading is as accurate as the Intel calibrates it.

TJMax is a sensor that shuts down your PC when the CPU heats up and reaches maximum temperature.

What Does RealTemp Indicate?

RealTemp directly reads the temperature data from the Intel processor and modifies the temperature for each CPU core. But how does RealTemp work?

It collects the temperature data using Fluke 62 – an IR (infrared thermometer) – with sensors that access the PC’s DTS (Digital Thermal Sensors) automatically. 

RealTemp monitors both the minimum and maximum CPU temperatures with complete logging.

It also displays Calibration settings along with APIC ID (Advanced Programmable Interrupt Controller), TJMax, CPUID (CPU Identification), and CPU speed in MHz (Megahertz). 

Moreover, RealTemp also incorporates an elevated alert feature that shuts down the CPU when it reaches a high temperature. It does not require any installation or modifications to the Windows operating system registry. 

How Accurate is RealTemp?

RealTemp allows users to correct DTS sensor errors that frequently occur at idle and low temperatures – and can do the same at full load.

When performing cooling tests, RealTemp compares the sensors with the same load for ten distinct CPU loading levels. 

One of the tests concluded that the Core 0 and 1 sensor were not balanced but for Cores 2 and 3, were the same (during idle). Whereas, and during full load, there was a 5° Celsius difference until TJMax. Thus, one core has a TJMax that differs from the others.

Overall, many users reported the program to be fast and accurate with impressive performance.

2. What is CoreTemp?

CoreTemp is a compact yet powerful tool to check CPU temperature and other information. It is a RealTemp alternative that displays the temperature of each core of each processor in the system. Moreover, it shows temperature fluctuations in real time with varying workloads.

What Does CoreTemp Indicate?

To learn what CoreTemp indicates, you have to understand how does core temp works. CoreTemp monitors the temperature of any modern x86 based processor and supports all three big processor manufacturers: Intel, VIA, and AMD.

CoreTemp indicates temperature readings directly from the Digital Thermal Sensor (or DTS) located in each processing core. 

How Accurate is CoreTemp?

CoreTemp records all information through the DTS. DTS is an independent digital sensor that does not depend on any external circuit to the motherboard. It records all the information in a special register in the processor.

As CoreTemp accesses the DTS register for reading, it eliminates any inaccuracies caused by external circuits. Thus, CoreTemp gives a very accurate reading.

3. Supported Processors

Which Processors are measured with RealTemp?

The RealTemp program monitors CPU temperatures for:

• Intel-Based Quad Core
• Intel Dual Core
• Single Core Processors

Each core uses a DTS to display temperature information relative to the TJMax (Temperature Junction Maximum) – used by Intel to determine a core’s temperature limitation and the point at which it will throttle, or automatically lower its speed to prevent thermal damage.

Which Processors are Measured with CoreTemp?

CoreTemp measures x86 style processors and supports CPUs from:

• Intel
• VIA
• AMD

CoreTemp gives precisely accurate temperature readings gathered directly from DTS. Click here for a complete list of supported processors. 

RealTemp vs CoreTemp: The Significances

1. Real Temp Significances

What Does RealTemp Signify?

RealTemp signifies the normal and maximum temperature range of your central processing unit along with a thermal status-based log. Once you download RealTemp on your PC, you do not have to install it. It is 100% free to download. 

How Can You Test the DTS (Digital Thermal Sensors) with RealTemp?

After downloading RealTemp, extract the program from its folder and then double click on the file called RealTemp.exe.

When the program starts, it will immediately display your CPU’s temperature data, as well as its speed, load, DTS, proximity to TJMax, and Minimum with Maximum.

To perform testing, click on the button “XS Bench”. Use the Reset button to reset the maximum or minimum value. You can also customize numerous options by clicking Settings. 

What’s The Ideal Scenario with DTS (Digital Thermal Sensors)?

Each processor operates at varying temperature ranges. For instance, those that use Intel-based processors should not have an idle temperature higher than 40-45°Celsius and 80-85° Celsius while under load.

As for AMD processors, the temperature should not exceed 45° Celsius while idle or 70° Celsius when under load.

2. Core Temp Significances

What Does CoreTemp Signify?

CoreTemp enables you to assess the temperatures of modern X86 processors. Its readings are gathered from the Digital Thermal Sensor directly as opposed to the motherboard’s external circuit.

The value is stored within the processor’s special register that can then be accessed and interpreted by the software. Thus, minimizing the risk of inaccuracies.

How Can You Test the CPU Watts (power) with CoreTemp?

After downloading and installing CoreTemp, click on the program icon to open its window.

The program will display your CPU temperature and other details. To determine the CPU watts, look under the section TDP (Thermal Design Power temperature). It will display the current processor power consumption.

What’s The Ideal Scenario with CPU Watts?

The ideal scenario for CPU watts depends on the type of processor. For entry-level CPUs such as Intel i3, it is 55-73 watts, while mid-tier CPUs such as the i5 are between 73-95 watts, and high-end CPUs such as the i7 are from 95-125 watts.

RealTemp vs CoreTemp: Recommendations

1. What Should Be Your PC’s Ideal RealTemp?

The best CPU temperature depends on the model you have. Generally speaking, high-end CPUs have higher maximum temperature ranges than lower-end models.

When running demanding applications or games, the ideal temperature should range from 75-80° Celsius, while the normal idle temperature is between 45-65° Celsius. 

CPUs operate while emitting heat; this heat results from electric resistance inside the circuits.

While it is normal for temperatures to get high while performing certain tasks or running specific programs, you should be concerned if the temperature remains high when the system is idle.

2. What Should Be Your PC’s Ideal CoreTemp?

The best temperature for CoreTemp is 40-45° Celsius during idle. If you go above this range while running a high-end app, it is not automatically a problem, but you will want to assess the PC performance.

When using CoreTemp, you can use the Core #0 and Core#1 sections to determine the CPU temperatures at the moment.

If your CPU becomes too hot, there will be several warning signs, including a fan, slower performance, system freezes, error messages, a blue death screen, or a complete system shutdown. Unless you cool the CPU down, your hardware can get damaged to the point that it will have to be replaced.

RealTemp vs CoreTemp: Which One Should You Rely More Upon?

Which of the two is the best CPU temp monitor? Both RealTemp and CoreTemp have different ways of measuring CPU temperatures.

Those who have used both and made comparisons between the two have reported some substantial differences at times, which can be higher than 10° Celsius.

Based on forum posts, made by the developers of RealTemp, many believe that their program provides greater accuracy.

The load temperatures provided by RealTemp are often smaller than CoreTemp by 15 ° Celsius depending on the processor. 

Additionally, RealTemp is considered better by many since it compensates for non-linear thermal sensors.

Others have pointed out that it is better to have temperatures that are a bit higher as they compensate for both overclocking and temperature monitoring.

RealTemp has a 95° TJMax, while CoreTemp has a 100° TJMax. However, it has been discovered that if you switch the RealTemp TJMax to 100°, the readings will be identical to CoreTemp’s.

Besides using temperature monitoring programs, can you use CPU thermal paste on GPU? Well, yes, you can.

Tips for cooling down your CPU include: replacing its thermal paste, installing a CPU cooler, reconfiguring fans for greater airflow, purchasing a larger case, and regular maintenance. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Final Words

CPU temperature is something you should always take seriously. If the temperature goes above a certain threshold, internal damage can occur – even though the system may not indicate issues immediately.

Some of the problems of high CPU temperature include higher electric resistance, lower efficiency and CPU performance, and data corruption. In the worst-case scenario, excessive CPU temperatures can lead to solder melting.

You might also notice that your fan is much louder than usual. So, if you are one of those who wonder is it bad to run your GPU fan at 100 all the time; read the article to know more.

The fan runs at 100 because it is working harder to cool everything down.

Thus, it is crucial to use programs like RealTemp and CoreTemp to monitor the CPU temperature. Hopefully, this CoreTemp vs RealTemp review helped you choose the right one for your PC.